[Role of the pituitary gland in calcium and magnesium metabolism in dogs and rats].

Epiphysectomy in dogs and rats was accompanied by a reduction of urinary excretion of calcium and magnesium, by an increase in the magnesium concentration in the blood plasma of dogs. Administration of epiphysial extracts induced an increase of diuresis in dogs on account of a greater rate of glomerular filtration and a fall of the tubular water reabsorption. Calcium and magnesium urinary excretion increased in dogs and rats as well; this was due both to an increase of their ultrafiltration and a reduction of reabsorption in the renal tubules. Consequently, the epiphysis took part in the regulation of metabolism of bivalent cations.